Hawks achieve season-long goal

The Bartlett girls cross country team is in the state finals for the first time in program history. The Hawks will run in the Class 3A meet at Peoria's Dettweiller Park on Saturday.

"It's what we've been working for all season," said Bartlett senior Kristen Schneider. "We knew it was a realistic goal. It's great to have that goal accomplished. Everybody on varsity has stepped it up. We've been working on packing it up and closing the gap from the first three runners."

Schneider's younger sister, Alyssa, was second at the St. Charles East sectional last weekend. Kristen Schneider finished ninth, while senior Sam Salinas was 14th.

Crystal Lake South junior standout Kristina Aubert is in the state finals for a third year in a row. Aubert, who won a track state championship in the 3,200 as a freshman, finished 72nd as a freshman (Class AA) and eighth (Class 3A) as a sophomore at Dettweiller.

Dundee-Crown senior Kelsey Seiler is back in the state finals for a second year in a row. Seiler finished 92nd as a junior.

In Class 2A, Burlington Central is back in Peoria for an encore. The Rockets finished sixth in 2007 at the state meet (current sophomore Markelle Turk finished 12th individually).

"It's all dedication," said Burlington Central senior Meghan Thommes. "Everybody is so passionate for running. It's all hard work. It's the dedication we put into it. We kind of made a standard and we want to keep setting it higher and we want to keep it that way."

Thommes was Central's second runner at the sectional last week.

"I'm way better than last year. I'm not quite sure what it is," said Thommes. "Mentally I believe I can do it. I believe in myself."

Hampshire junior Holly Plichta will also run in the Class 2A meet. Plichta was a Class 1A state qualifier as a sophomore (finishing 37th).